Fire at Mr. JORDAN's building

JORDAN, STEWART, BLACK, MCCULLOUH, WOODARD, TRUMP, WELLS, GEORGE, MORRIS, MCCULLOUGH

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 3/25/2007 at 14:52:54

"Fairfield Ledger Weekly", April 15, 1869

Another Fire.--- On Friday night last Fairfield was visited by another fire, and there was no engine or hook and ladder company to extinguish the flames, yet only one building was destroyed. To the glorious fire brigade that is always promptly on the ground, and energetically works until the fire is extinguished, every property holder is indebted; but to the lazy louts who stand around with umbrellas, kid gloves, and broad cloth coats, and pity property holders, not many thanks are due. Fairfield is noted for its impromptu fire brigade, and every citizen has or may have reason to be grateful to it.

The fire on Friday night originated in the two-story frame building on the northeast corner of the Park, owned by W. H. JORDAN. The lower story was occupied by W. A. STEWART with a grocery store. On the second floor Henry BLACK had about completed arrangements for an ice-cream saloon. One room was occupied by Capt. J. T. McCULLOUH [sic] as a law office; another by Dr. WOODARD, and another by C. M. TRUMP, tailor. The building was close to Capt. WELLS’ large three story brick. The ground room next to the burned building was occupied by GEORGE & MORRIS, jewelers, and above them was the LEDGER office. In the rear of Mr. STEWART’s grocery room was stored some machinery. The building was totally destroyed, but by the earnest and energetic efforts of some of our citizens the large brick building was saved. Part of Mr. STEWART’s goods were saved --- say $1,200. He was insured for $3,000. His entire stock was worth $4,500. Mr. BLACK lost about $50 worth of goods. Capt. McCULLOUGH lost all his law books; Dr. WOODARD lost all his books, papers, accounts, &c., and Mr. TRUMP lost all he had in the building. Mr. JORDAN remoddled [sic] this building last fall, and his loss is in the neighborhood of $2,000, -- no insurance. We had rented two rooms up stairs for our office, and were to move on the first of January last, but became alarmed, and paid $50 to stay out of there. That $50 was well invested.

The north wall of Capt. WELLS’ building is badly damaged, and will doubtless have to be rebuilt. The windows in the rear are destroyed, and had it not been for the rain and the changing of the wind, the flames would undoubtedly have swept it from the East. GEORGE & MORRIS removed a portion of their goods. Their loss was inconsiderable. From our office we removed our books and papers, but would not permit the removal of the type of any of the stock. Our loss is almost nothing. Capt. WELLS’ [sic] has insurance on his building, and what the damage is we do not know. The fire is supposed to have originated from the pipe that went through the floor into Capt. McCULLOUGH’s office.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.